MILWAUKEE, Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls today announced that its board of directors has appointed Brian Cadwallader vice president, secretary and general counsel for the company, effective Oct.1. Cadwallader was elected as a company officer and named vice president and assistant secretary in January 2014. With this promotion, he succeeds Jerome Okarma who will retire from the company at the end of the calendar year after 25 years of service.

"Jerry's experience as general counsel for each of our business units, as well as most recently the enterprise, is immeasurable and represents a tremendous accomplishment and value for the company," said Alex Molinaroli, chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls. "Brian brings a similar level of cross business unit global experience and depth of knowledge, both within Johnson Controls as well as externally."

Since joining the company in 2010, Cadwallader most recently served as vice president and assistant secretary, and prior to that as group vice president and general counsel of the company's Building Efficiency business.

Before Johnson Controls Cadwallader served in several leadership roles with International Paper Company, including associate general counsel and assistant secretary, where he led the legal functions for the company's three international headquarter locations and two business units. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Michigan University and a Juris Doctor from St. Louis University.

About Johnson Controls:Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.